Murphy, Owens fought 'Slaughter solution' for health care

House Democrats today abandoned their plan to use a controversial procedural gambit to pass the final piece of the administration-backed health care overhaul without an up-or-down vote on that measure.

Two upstate New York lawmakers — Democrats Scott Murphy and Bill Owens — took the lead in pushing against the widely criticized strategy.

“As we move toward passing landmark legislation to reform our broken health care system, it is critical that we continue to uphold . . . a high standard of openness, transparency and accountability,” Murphy said in a statement.

At issue was Democrats’ potential plan to pass a rule for floor debate that would “deem” the bill passed — without a specific vote on that measure itself. That strategy had been widely criticized by Republicans. who dubbed it the “Slaughter solution,” referencing House Rules Chairman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y.

Murphy and Owens joined Rep. Jim Himes, D-Ct., in leading the charge against the plan.

“Giving the American people a clear vote will ensure we move forward with this process in the most transparent way possible,” Murphy said.

Himes said the decision came after “several of my colleagues and I persuaded leadership to take separate up-or-down votes on the Senate health care and amendments to that legislation.”

“I strongly support health care reform,” Himes added, “but I am equally committed to maintaining the transparency and good order that Americans should expect from their government.”